Watchcase.



- Patented Oct. 28, |902. W. H. FITZ GERALD.

WATCHCASE.

(Application filed Oct. 2l, 1901.) (In Model.)

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No. 7|22aa. Patented oct. 28, |902.

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WATCHCASE.

(Application Bled Oct. 2l, 1901.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

WALTER H. FITZ GERALD, OF BROOKLYN, NEIN YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO RUBE R. FOGEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WATCHCAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,286, dated October 28, 1902.

Application tiled October 21, 1901. Serial No. 79,325. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Beit known thatLWALTER H. FITZ GERALD,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, Brooklyn borough, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watchcases,which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a face view of a watchcase embodying my said improvements, the front cap thereof being shown in its open position. Fig. 2 is a view of said watchcase similar to Fig. 1, the movement -ring thereof being shown as having undergone a substantial portion of its reversing movement to better illustrate the form and disposition of the lockspring which I employin connection with my improved watchcase. Fig. 3 is an edge view zo of the watchcase, partly in section, a portion of the case-center and the movement-ring thereof being broken away. Fig. et is a fragmentary View of the case-center of the watch looking in the direction of the inner end of the winding-stem thereof, the lock-spring thereof being shown in position for service. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective, showing the lock-spring which I employ as an element of my improved watchcase.

Similar reference numerals denote like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In a general sense this invention relates to improvements in mechanical structures of 3 5 that class employed for inclosing the movements of watches and commonly known as watchcasesg and it relates more particularly to that type of cases for the purpose named, which are commercially known as 4o magic watchcases, the same being so named from the fact that each is of such construction as to be readily convertible from the so-called hunting type of case to the so-called open-face case, or vice versa.

The object of this invention is to provide a watchcase which shall embody an integral elastic element so formed and disposed as to serve as a medium for yieldingly and simultaneously locking against movement a plu- 5o rality of movable parts of said case, which shall be so constructed as to insure ready access, when desired, to either of the elastic elements above named and to other parts of the case, as in repairing operations, which shall minimize the cost of that operation commonly known as springing7 a watchcase, which shall be durable, positive, and reliable in practical service, and which shall possess certain well-defined advantages over prior analogous structures.

The invention consists in the employment of certain parts novel as to form, in the novel disposition and arrangement of the various parts thereof, in certain combinations of the latter, and in certain details of construction, 6 5 all of which will be specifically referred to hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims.

I-laving reference to the accompanying drawings, 2l denotes the case-center; 3, the 7o cap hinged to the case-center, as at 4; 5, the bezel hinged to the case-center, as at 6; 7, the pendant, and 8 the reversible movement-rin g of the watchcase. The case-center 2 is provided with inturned opposing anges 9 9', 75 Fig. 7.

14 is a pivot which projects inwardly from the case-center 2 and serves also as a bearing for the movement-ring 8 at that point, as in common practice.

The reversible movement-ring Sis provided with inturned opposing flanges 2 2, forming a recess between them, within which I dispose the lock-spring lil', which I make use of in connection with my improved watchcase, the said lock-spring being provided, midway the length thereof, with opposing lateral hooklike heads 3 3".

The lock-spring which I employ is extended beyond its opposing heads in both direc- 9o tions and given a normal general curvature at variance with the circular contour of the movement-ring 8, so that under normal conditions its respective terminals will, as indicated in Fig. l, engage the dust-band 4', emg5 ployed in connection with the movementring 8, the said dust-band also serving as a keeper to retain said spring in proper position for service and said lock-spring being given the form substantially as herein de- Ioo scribed to the end that its opposing heads 3 3 may be simultaneously moved inward toward the movement-ring 8 under pressure applied at the outer side of said spring, midway the length thereof, as will be hereinafter described.

It will be observed that the opposing iianges 2 2 are cut away to permit the heads 3 3 to project outwardly from the lock-spring proper and to provide clearance for movement of said heads under pressure applied at the outer side of said spring, as above referred to.

It will be understood that means other than the dust-band 4 of any well-known and approved construction may be employed for retaining purposes in connection with the lockspring of my improved watchcase.

I further employ a winding-stein 5', having a stop 4: preferably formed integral therewith and connected at its outer end to the crown 5, which loosely incloses the outer end of the pendant '7, as in common practice, the said stem being disposed centrally within the pendant 7, so that its stop 4" will engage the lock-spring aforenamed, while the inner end portion of said stem extends through said spring, as by way of an opening 6 through the dust-band 4 by way of a suitable opening formed therein, and terminates at a point inwardly beyond said dustband for winding purposes, as in common practice. The movement-ring 8 is provided diametrically opposite its point of bearing on the pivot 14 with an outwardly-extending tubular trunnion 6", which takes over and has a bearing engagement with the stop 4E of the stem 5', as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

To facilitate assembling of the parts, particularly the movement-ring 8 with respect to the case-center 2, it is desirable that the pivot 14 be removably connected to the body member 2 or that the trunnion 6" be removably connected to the movement-ring 8. I have shown the latter as permanentlycon nected to the movement-ring 8, and the pivot 14 may be formed for removable engagement with the body member 2 in any well-known and approved manner, as by threading the same to screw intoa suit-able threaded opening with which said case-center may be provided.

The parts of my improved watchcase are so adj usted and arranged that the lock-spring thereof, which is disposed to accompany the movement-ring 8 in the latters reversing movements, serves through the medium of its heads 3' 3" to yieldingly lock said movementring against movement in either direction when occupying the position indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and which locking eifect is had by reason 0f the heads 3 3 then taking over the case-center 2, at opposite sides thereof, as indicated in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, and itis adapted to have at the same time a locking engagement with both the cap 3 and the bezel 5 when said cap and bezel are moved each to its closed position upon the body member 2. For liberating said cap, bezel, and movementring, the latter for reversing movement, and

said cap and bezel so that thev same may return or be returned each to its open position, it is only necessary for the user to apply a suitable inward Vpressure to the crown 5, thus accordingly moving said crown 5" and the parts 3' 3 from their positions as indicated in full lines in Fig. 3 to the positions indi.

cated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and While holding the parts to which reference is now being made in the positions last referred to the user may impart a reversing movement to the movement-ring S by applying due pressure thereto at a suitable circumferential point thereof, and when said movement-ring under such pressure shall have been moved to a plane at right angles to the case-center 2 the parts will occupy substantially the position indicated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings.

As essential features of my invention I may name the mounting of the lock-spring for movement as a whole with the movementring, and the employment of a lock-spring adapted to simultaneously lock against movement the bezel, cap, and movement-ring thereof when these latter'parts occupy each its closed position.

It will be observed that my improved watchcase is well adapted to the purpose for which it is intended and that the same may be modified to some extent without material departure from the spirit and principle of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a watchcase, in combination, a casecenter; a reversible movement-,ring within the case-center; a lock-spring carried by said movement-ring at the inner side thereof, and adapted under normal conditions to engage the case-center so as to lock said movementring against reversing action; and a movable part projecting from said lock-spring outward through the case-center, and whereby said lock-spring may be urged out of its locking engagement with the body member, for liberating said movement-ring.

2; In a watchcase, in combination, a casecenter; a reversible movement-ring within the case-center; a lock-spring carried by, and reversible with said movement-ring, the said spring having opposing, lateral, hook-like elements adapted under normal conditions'to engage the case-center at both sides thereof, and thereby lock said movement-ring against reversing action; and a movable part projecting from said lock-springoutward through the case-center, and whereby said spring may be manipulated so as to effect disengagement of its said hook-like elements from said case-center, for liberating said movementsocket.

3. In a watchcase, in combination, a casecenter; a reversible movement-ring within the case-center; and a lock-spring, the latter carried by and reversible with,the said movement-ring, and adapted, at a suitable point in IOO IIO

xo closed positions.

5. In a reversible watch, a case-center; a movement-ring pivoted therein; and a lockspring at the ease-center, the said spring being adapted to engage the case-center and hold the said ring from moving on its pivots.

WALTER H. FITZ GERALD.

Vitnesses:

W. H. RUBY, DINAH STANDER. 

